Page 34 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2026 - Online Magazine

LEVELLAND HISTORY

image shows a small group of men and A.W. Blankenship. Their work
gathered in an empty landscape, focused on building the essential
formalizing the beginning of a systems of a functioning town—
community that had yet to physically bringing electricity, organizing
exist. governance, and supporting
continued growth.
Building a Town, One Structure at
a Time A Legacy That Endures

By the spring of 1921, the courthouse The early history of Levelland is, at
was complete. Smith moved into the its core, a story of determination. It
building with his family, becoming is the story of people who chose to
the first residents of Hockley City. settle in a place others had dismissed.
Of leaders who selected a county seat
of grassland. Cowboys reportedly Soon after, the town’s first business where no town yet stood. Of families
laughed at the idea of a “city” in the opened. J. M. Fleming constructed a who built homes, businesses, and
empty landscape. general store on the square, doubling lives in an environment that offered
as a post office. Mail was transported no guarantees.
By 1920, Hockley County’s from Lubbock—an all-day journey
population had reached 137 by Model T truck—and placed in a It is also a story of belief that
residents. On February 19, 1921, an shoebox. Residents would come in something meaningful could be
election was held to determine the and search through it themselves. created where nothing existed before.
location of the county seat. It was
a decision that would define the Early settlers like S.S. Ripley (first Today, Levelland stands as a
region’s future. There were only two home) and G. H. Tubb (second testament to that belief. What began
options. home) transported materials from as a marker in the prairie has become
neighboring towns to build the first a community shaped by resilience,
Ropesville, a modest but established residences, establishing a sense ingenuity, and a deep sense of place.
settlement with a Santa Fe Railroad of permanence in the once empty And while the physical landscape
depot, offered the advantage of prairie. may still reflect the vast, open plains
existing infrastructure. Hockley City, that inspired its name, the spirit of
by contrast, offered none. There were A City Comes to Life Levelland tells a richer story of vision
no roads leading to it. No buildings. realized over time.
No permanent residents. Just open As the community grew, so did the
land and a vision. need for identity. In 1922, residents Remembering the Past, Shaping the
applied for a post office designation Future
The vote was close. Of the 97 ballots under the name Hockley City,
cast, Hockley City won by a margin but the request was denied due The history of Levelland has been
of just seven votes, 52 to 45. With that to duplication. A group of ladies preserved thanks to the dedication
decision, the county chose not what gathered in Bowers’ store and created of local historians who recognized
was, but what could be. the geographically descriptive name the importance of capturing the
“Levelland.” early stories. Lillian Brasher’s The
Finding the Beginning First Fifty Years: Hockley County
By the mid-1920s, Levelland 1921–1971, along with the work of
Shortly after the election, county had grown from a concept into a Bill Billingsley, John Hope, Sycily
officials prepared to hold their first functioning community, considering Lattimore, and many others, ensures
Commissioners Court meeting. incorporation. In March 1926, that the origins of the community
By law, it had to take place at the the town covered less than two remain accessible to future
designated courthouse site, but no square miles but had grown to 500 generations.
one was sure where that site was. A inhabitants. An election was held,
local cowboy, C. M. Crosley, helped and the outcome was decisive: 116 Levelland did not begin with
identify the location in the prairie votes in favor of incorporation, 29 buildings or infrastructure. It began
where the marker had once stood. against. with a vision and the courage to
The officials held their meeting right believe in it. The legacy of vision
there on the open land. Levelland was officially a city. and courage continue as the city
celebrates its 100 birthday.
th
George P. Smith, who soon served Its first leaders were elected soon
as district clerk, borrowed a camera after, including Mayor D. N. House
and captured the moment. The and commissioners C. A. Luck

34 Lubbock Senior Link